Condenser and breaker point assembly for automotive ignition systems



July 20, 1954 s GUILLERMIN D. CONDENSER AND BREAKER POINT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE IGNITION SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 22. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 25 WP M I lliLLLl] H I l 33 34 33 INVENTOR. F Dewey $.6ui/lermin O g 5 4/ 1. Fa,

HIS A T TORNE Y5 July 20, 1954 Filed D. s. GUILLERMIN 2,684,394 CONDENSER AND BREAKER POINT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE IGNITION SYSTEMS Dec. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pig 8 INVENTOR. Dewey S. Guillerm/n BY W Kw HIS ATTORNEYS y 0, 1954 D. s. GUILLERMIN 2,684,394

CONDENSER AND BREAKER POINT ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE IGNITION SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dewey 5. Gui/la rmin HIS ATTORNEYS Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES CONDENSER AND BREAKER POINT AS- SEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE IGNITION SYSTEMS PATENT OFFICE Dewey S. Guillermin, Ambridge, Pa., assignor of one-half to William A. Meier and Erna E. Meier,

Brighton Township,

9 Claims.

This application relates to condensers and breaker point assembly for automotive ignition systems. More particularly it relates to a combined condenser and breaker point unit which can be installed into the conventional ignition systems of internal combustion engines of automobiles, trucks, etc. These conventional ignition systems have a source of electric current generally a battery, spark plugs for each cylinder, an ignition coil having primary and secondary coils and a distributor. The battery and the primary of the ignition coil are connected in series and the distributor has contact points which are periodically opened and closed by a cam driven by the engine to interrupt the flow of current through the primary and thereby generate a high voltage in the secondary of the spark coil, which high voltage is distributed to the plugs by a rotor and a series of contacts in the distributor. In these ignition systems, a condenser is placed across the contact points which interrupt the flow of current to the primary for the purpose of preventing arcing across the points.

After more or less extended periods of use, the points and the condenser fail and it is necessary to replace them, it generally being the practice to replace the points and the condenser at the same time even though only one of these elements has failed. Different makes of automobiles and trucks have different types of distributors and therefore it has been necessary for garages and repairman to carry a wide variety of points and condensers so that they can replace these elements in whatever make of car or truck may require attention. I have invented a condenser and breaker point assembly which is universal, i. e., it can be installed in any make of car. My invention, therefore, permits garages and repairmen to carry a much smaller inventory of condensers and breaker points. In addition my invention has advantages over conven" tional points and condensers which make it valuable as a unit of original equipment. These advantages can best be understood after construction of my invention is understood, and therefore they will be discussed following the description.

In the accompanying drawings I have disclosed certain present preferred embodiments of my invention in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an assembly embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the lines IVIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of an internal part of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the part shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modification of my invention;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a fur ther modification of my invention;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1 together with a clamp which I have invented for holding the assembly in place in an ignition distributor;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 9, a portion thereof being in longitudinal section; and

Figure 11 is a section along the lines XI-XI of Figure 10.

As shown in Figure 1 a condenser and breaker point assembly made in accordance with my invention comprises a hollow cylindrical casing l2 which is tapered adjacent one end at the top and bottom as at [3 and 14, this taper being provided so that the unit can be installed in certain current makes of distributors. The cylinder has end portions l5 and IS, the end portion l5 acting as a base for the points as will be hereinafter described. The casing l2 holds the condenser (not shown in Figure 1) and a breaker arm ll which is pivotally mounted within the casing. One side of the breaker arm carries a fiber strip [8 which engages a cam driven by the engine in which the unit is placed and the other side of the arm carries a movable contact point which is not shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the interior construction of my condenser and breaker point assembly. The casing carries a cylindrical condenser 19 which is of conventional construction in which two pairs 20 and 2| of strips of foil and paper are wrapped around a tube so that they overlap the greater part of their width but leave a small portion of each pair extending beyond the other pair at each end to form condenser terminals. The coin denser l9 has a central longitudinal passage throughout its length. A post 22 extends substantially through this passage and through the end portion I5 of the condenser, the post 22 being insulated from the end portion I5 of the casing by a washer 23 and a bushing 24 of dielectric material. The post 22 carries a flange 25 which extends transversely from the post and carries downwardly extending pivot points 26 about which the breaker arm ll pivots. As shown in Figure 3 the post 22 has a transversely extending slot 22a in which the arms of the pivot I! move. The arm is longer than the diameter of the casing and extends at both ends through openings I2a and 12b respectively in the casing. One side of the arm 51 carries a'fiber strip H3 which engages a cam driven by the engine and the other side carries a contact point 21 which is adapted to engage a fixed contact 28 carried on the end portion I of the casing upon rotation of the breaker arm [1.

The post 22 has a central longitudinal passage 29 which is internally threaded throughout the greater portion of its length. The passage carries a plunger 30 which is resiliently pressed against the side of the breaker arm I! which carries the contact point 21 'by'a spring 3!. A headless screw 32 threaded into the passage 29 holds the spring and plunger against the arm l1. A screw 33 also threaded into the passage 29 in the post 22 provides a connection 34 between the contact point 2'! and the primary coil of the spark coil forming part'of the ignition system. A flanged bushing '35 of dielectric material insulates the screw 33 and the connection 34 from the end portion it of the casing. The opposite end 36 or the post 22 is Solid and externally threaded to receive a nut 33 which secures the post to the end portion 15. Asshown in Figure 3, the nut 37 presses against oneside of the end portion !5 through a metal washer 37a and an insulating washer 23 and the flange 25 press'esagainst the other side of the end portion through the insulating bushing 24. It will be noted from Figure 3 that one terminal of the condenser 19 contacts the end portion [6 of the casing and thereby makes electrical contact with the casing and the med contact point 28. The other terminal of the condenser is connected to the contact point 21 through the breaker arm l1, and the post 22. For this purpose the post 22 carries a radially extending flange 38 which is adjacent 'the bottom of the slot 22a. A coil spring 39surro'unds' the post 22 and presses at one end against-the flange 38 and at the other end against theadjacent end and terminal of the condenser 19.

The end portion of the condenser carries the fixed contact point in a slot 40 in the end portion 15. A spring wire '4l holds the contact point in the slot 40, one end ofthe wire 4! being secured to the contact point and the other end being formed into aburved loop, the outer end 42 of which is curvedto fit into 'a groove 53 cut in the side of a short hub 4 on the end portion [5.

Figure 7 shows a modification of the condenser and breaker arm assembly shown in Figure 3. The modification is substantially identical with the structure shown in Figure 3 and therefore wherever possible the same reference numbers have been used. The'as'sembly shown in Figure 7' differs from the assembly shown in Figure 3 primarily in the mechanism for resiliently holding the contact points?! and 28 together. In the structure shown'in Figure 7 the end e5of the post 22 which corresponds to the end 36 of the post shown in Figures 5' and 6 is made hollow and is swaged over on a metal washer 46 to se cure the post 22to the end portion [5 of the casing. A flanged bushing 41 extends into the end 45 and has a plurality'of holes 48' in its side in which one end of a tension'spring 49 maybe placed. The other end ofthespring 49 passes through openings in the side of the arm ll Whichcarri'es the contact point 21'. The spring I and condenser in any make of car.

thus tends to rotate the arm ii to hold the contact points 2'! and 28 closed. The tension on the spring t9 can be adjusted by moving the ends secured to the sleeve from one of the holes 43 to another.

Figure 8 shows a condenser and breaker arm assembly which is generally similar to the assembly shown in Figures 3 and 7 but in which still a diiTerent form of spring is used to rotate thebrea-ker arm i! so as to close the contact points 21 and i8. Another method of holding the post 22 to the end portion I5 of the casing is also disclosed. A flat spring 5! is curved in the form of a'Uand the end of one leg of the U fits into an opening'52 cut in the side of the arm I! which carries the contact point 27. The end of the other leg of the U is folded over on itself and fits Within a groove 53 formed in the flange 38.

Also in the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 8, the nut 37 shown in Figure 2 is dispensed with and the end 54 of the post 22 is simplyhammered over'against a washer 55.

Figures 9, 10 'and ll show' a clamp which'l haveinvent'ed to hold my condenser and breaker point assembly to theplate of a' distributor in such'position that the fiber strip [8 on the breaker arm H can be engaged by a motor driven c'ainl My clamp comprises'a split ring 55 the ends of which carry collars 5'5 and 58." A threaded bolt 59 passes through these collars, so that it can be threaded into the base of a distributor. "lfl hen the threaded bolt 59'is tightened it compresses the ring 58 to hold the casing l2 in place.

Two'ears' 59 are cut out of the'split ring and are bent upwardly towards each other to form a support for a pin 65. 'A toothed wheel E2 rotates about the'pin Gland meshes with tooth slotsES which are formed in the casing I2 My clamp thus provides two adjustments whereby the condenser and breaker point as sembly can be placed on a distributor base in such position that the fiber IS on the breaker arm will be properly engaged by a motor driven cam. The casing can be rotated about the bolt 59 and the casing can be moved longitudinally in the clamp by turning the wheel 62. To prevent the casing from rocking about the bolt 59, the bottom of the split ring 56 has wings 6 5 which extend out from each side of the ring between the casing l2 and the base of the distributor to which the casing is secured.

As stated above my invention comprises a universal part by which to replace the breaker points If desired, however, the condenser or the points can be separately replaced. To replace the condenser a fairly complete disassembly of the unit is required but the points can be replaced very simply. All that is required is first relieve the tension of the spring on the breaker arm and pull the breaker arm out through the opening 421) in the casing. Next, spring the wire ii out of the groove 43 and rotate the wire so as to clear the post 22. The fixedcontact point 28 can then be slid out of the slot All.

My condenser and breaker arm assembly has other advantages which improve the performance of any engine in which it is installed, and which make it of value as a unit to be originally installed in an ignition system; For example the arm is solid thus insuring a positive break since it is not necessary to take up any spring in the arm before the points are opened. The side of the lever arm which carries the moving contact point is preferably longer than 'the'side of the arm which engages the cam. Therefore, when the cam engages the arm the point 28 moves farther than the fiber I8 which rides on the cam and a better gap opening results. The pressure between the points when they are closed can easily be adjusted by varying the tension of the springs which press against the breaker arm. Since the sides of the lever arm on each side of the pivot points are relatively short, there is less inertia in the arm than is generally present in most breaker arms with the result that the points will open and close faster than points heretofore known, particularly at high speeds at which the present points tend to miss.

In breaker points heretofore used it has been found that the motor driven cam frequently throws dirt or oil onto the contact points. This results, of course, in poor motor operation. In my assembly the points are on the side of the casing opposite from the cam and they are, therefore, protected by the casing. If desired the end of the casing which carries the points can be filled with a plastic dielectric material which will remain flexible after it dries and which will allow movement of the breaker arm while sealing the unit against moisture.

My assembly also embodies an important safety feature in that if it is properly placed in the distributor, the points will not open if the motor tends to run in reverse. To illustrate, it is apparent from Figure 3 that if the cam is rotated in reverse, that is, counterclockwise viewing Figure 3, the arm I! will tend to pivot about the points 21 and 28 which will stay closed, the only action of the arm I! being to force the plunger 30 inwardly against the spring 3|. The same result will follow in the structure shown in Figure '7 except that the spring 49 will be extended. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 the end of the spring 5| will simply slide in the slot 53 which is cut in the flange 38.

While I have described certain present preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A condenser and breaker point assembly for ignition systems of internal combustion engines comprising a casing adapted to be grounded, a condenser in the casing having one terminal connected to the casing, a fixed contact point carried by the casing and electrically connected therewith, and a breaker arm pivotally mounted adjacent its central portion within the casing and electrically connected to the other terminal of the condenser but electrically insulated from the casing, one side of the arm carrying a contact point to engage the fixed contact point, the other side of the arm extending beyond the outer periphery of the casing to be engaged by a timer cam.

2. A condenser and breaker point assembly for ignition systems of internal combustion engines comprising a casing adapted to be grounded, a condenser in the casing having one terminal connected to the casing, a fixed contact point carried by the casing and electrically connected therewith, a breaker arm pivotally mounted adjacent its central portion within the casing and electrically connected to the other terminal of the condenser but electrically insulated from the casing, one side of the arm carrying a contact point to engage the fixed contact point, the other side of the arm extending beyond the outer periphery of the casing to be engaged by a timer cam, and a spring resiliently pressing the breaker arm so as to close the contact points.

3. A condenser and breaker point assembly for ignition systems of internal combustion engines comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to be grounded and having two end portions, a condenser in the casing having one terminal connected to one end portion, a fixed contact point carried by the other end portion and electrically connected therewith, a breaker arm pivotally mounted within the casing and electrically connected to the other terminal of the condenser, pivot points for the breaker arm adjacent the end portion having the fixed contact point, a contact point on one side of the arm adapted to engage the fixed contact upon rotation of the breaker arm, the other side of the arm extending beyond the outer periphery of the casing to be engaged by a timer cam, and a spring resiliently pressing the breaker arm so as to close the contact points.

4. A condenser and breaker point assembly for ignition systems of internal combustion engines comprising a cylindrical casing adapted to be grounded and having two end portions, a cylindrical condenser in the casing and having a central longitudinal passage, one terminal of the condenser being connected to the casing, a fixed contact point on one end portion, a post extending through the passage in the condenser and secured to the end portion having the fixed contact point but electrically insulated therefrom, the post being electrically connected to the other terminal of the condenser, a breaker arm pivotally mounted on the post and having a contact point on one side adapted to engage the fixed contact point on rotation of the arm, the other side of the arm extending from the casing to be engaged by a timer cam, and a spring supported by the post and operatively connected to the arm to rotate the arm so as to close the contact points.

5. A condenser and breaker point assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said post has a transversely extending slot through which the breaker arm extends, pivot points adjacent the slot on which the arm is pivotally mounted and a longitudinal passage leading into the slot, said passage holding a spring which resiliently presses against the arm to close the contact points.

6. A condenser and breaker point assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said post has a transversely extending slot through which the breaker arm extends, pivot points adjacent the slot on which the arm is pivotally mounted, and a longitudinal passage in the end of the post passing through the end portion of the casing, the assembly also having a flanged bushing with an opening in its side wall, and a tension spring having one end in said opening and the other end secured to the arm.

'7. A condenser and breaker point assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said post has a transversely extending slot through which the breaker arm extends, pivot points adjacent the slot on which the arm is pivotally mounted, and a transversely extending flange adjacent the slot, said flange securing one leg of a U-shaped fiat spring, the other leg of the spring engaging the breaker arm.

8. A condenser and breaker point assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said post has a horizontally extending flange and the assembly has a coiled spring between said flange and the termi- 7 nal of the' condenser which is not connected to the casing. I

9. A condenser and breaker point assembly as defined in claim 4 in which the end of the post within the condenser carries a. terminal for connecting the post to the primary coil of the ignition system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,050,799 Briggs Jan. 21, 1913 Number 

